London Housing Board

Clive Efford: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister 
	(1)  when he expects to receive the London Housing Board's recommendations on funding allocations for 2006 to 2008;
	(2)  if he will place a copy of the London Housing Board's recommendations on funding allocations for 2006 to 2008 in the Library;
	(3)  when he expects to reach a decision on the London Housing Board's recommendations on funding allocations for 2006 to 2008.

Yvette Cooper: The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister has recently received the London Housing Board's submission setting its recommendations on the allocation of Regional Housing Pot funds for 2006–07 and 2007–08. The submission and the associated London Housing Strategy are being placed on the Government Office for London's website (www.gos.gov.uk/gol). We will be announcing decisions on their, and other region's, recommendations shortly.

Neighbourhood Renewal Support Fund

Jim Cousins: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the floor targets for Neighbourhood Renewal Support Fund are; what the performance of Newcastle upon Tyne against those targets was; and what the average performance against those targets in (a) the North East and (b) England was.

Phil Woolas: Floor targets are an advance in how Government tackles disadvantage. They are delivered by Government Departments and contribute to the overarching Office of the Deputy Prime Minister's Public Service Agreement, (PSA) 1 target, on neighbourhood renewal and social exclusion.
	Floor targets for neighbourhood renewal:
	Help reduce the gap between the poorest areas and the rest of the country.
	Show what the priorities should be at a local level.
	Make sure that where public services are failing, they get better.
	Areas in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund resources focus on delivering floor targets and targets agreed locally.
	The latest floor target performance data we hold centrally has been made available in the Library of the House, although more up to date data may be available locally. These graphs show the performance of Newcastle upon Tyne, the North East average, the average performance of all areas in receipt of Neighbourhood Renewal Fund, and the England average for each of the key outcome areas (health, education, crime, worklessness, and liveability). We do not have a graph for housing, as centrally we only have data on council-owned dwellings.
	Further floor target performance data can be found at Floor Targets Interactive http://www.neighbourhood.gov.uk/page.asp?id=21

Rural Pathfinders

Charlotte Atkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the terms of reference of the Rural Pathfinder for the Peak District are; which other agencies are involved in its work; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: As set out in the "pathfinders prospectus" published in March 2005, a copy of which has been made available in the Library of the House, the overall aim of the rural delivery pathfinders is to explore and test opportunities for more joined up, flexible and effective approaches to rural delivery at a local level. This includes innovation in rural development and delivery of services in rural areas, and better prioritisation of existing resources, in line with local priorities, towards areas, communities and people with the greatest needs. The prospectus sets out in more detail the overarching framework within which all pathfinders, including the one in the Peak District Rural Action Zone, are operating.
	In the Peak District RAZ pathfinder, the focus is on access to services with particular emphasis on access to support a sustainable rural economy and community regeneration. Local priorities for action include affordable housing, sustainable tourism, promoting local distinctiveness, learning and skills, and enhancing and sustaining a high quality environment. More detail can be found in the outline business plan published at the pathfinders launch on 14 March 2005 (and to be found at http://wwwdefra.gov.uk/rural/ruraldelivery/pathfinders/default.htm)
	From the outset the pathfinder has aimed for an inclusive approach; the cross-border nature of the area makes this imperative. The steering group formed to oversee the preparatory work for the pathfinder involves two Local Strategic Partnerships (Derbyshire and Staffordshire), six local authorities, a National Park Authority, a sub-regional Strategic Partnership, the voluntary and community sector, representation from the Natural England confederation, a Rural Community Council, a Government Office and RDA. further linkages are being developed with other partners within the East and West Midlands.
	The pathfinders represent a key element of DEFRA's agenda to ensure that decisions on service delivery can be taken closer to the customer. We have allowed local areas to set the agenda for what they tackle. This is critical because we are embarked on a radical process of improving the way in which we support rural delivery, as outlined in Rural Strategy 2004. The pathfinders provide us and our delivery partners with an opportunity to recognise and respond to difficulties and opportunities and better meet rural needs

Advertising Campaigns

Andrew Turner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will list the health-related advertising campaigns commissioned since February 2002, indicating the (a) objectives, (b) start and end dates, (c) media used, (d) criteria used to assess the effectiveness, (e) extent to which effectiveness criteria were met, (f) agency used and (g) cost of each.

Jane Kennedy: holding answer 23 June 2005
	The Department's advertising is commissioned through the Central Office of Information. Expenditure from 2001–02 to 2004–05 is shown in the following table. Information on objectives, start and end dates, media used criteria used to assess the effectiveness, extent to which effectiveness criteria were met and agency used can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			 £ million 
			  Advertising expenditure 
			 Campaign 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(4) 
		
		
			 Antibiotics 0.44 0.42 — — 
			 Campaign against living miserably (CALM) 0.10 — — — 
			 Drugs 1.5 1.5 0.91 0.9 
			 Influenza 2.0 1.6 1.5 — 
			 Hepatitis C — — — — 
			 Immunisation 1.0 2.0 — 0.01 
			 "Mind Out for Mental Health" 0.15 — — — 
			 National health service, including nurse recruitment 4.225 4.9 5.80 .002 
			 NHS Direct 0.58 0.75 — — 
			 Organ donation 0.21 — — — 
			 Prescription fraud 0.30 — — — 
			 Sexwise/teenage pregnancy 1.6 2.0 — — 
			 Sexual health 1.5 1.5 1.12 — 
			 NHS dentistry recruitment — — 0.12 — 
			 Social/care worker recruitment 1.23 4.62 1.80 — 
			 Smoking 7.87 17.76 20.36 0.24 
			 Tuberculosis awareness 0.09 — — — 
			 Winter—"Get the Right Treatment", "Ask about Medicines" day 0.25 1.75 0.54 — 
			 E111 — — 0.32 0.483 
			 Total 23.045 38.8 32.4 1.635 
		
	
	(4) To date.

Departmental Advertising Expenditure

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much (a) the Department and (b) non-departmental bodies for which the Department is responsible spent on advertising in 2004–05, broken down by media type.

Jane Kennedy: Media spend on advertising for the Department for 2004–05 was £32.7 million. The breakdown is shown in the following table.
	
		
			  £ million 
			 Media type Amount 
		
		
			 Press 6.8 
			 Regional press 2.1 
			 Television 17.8 
			 Radio 3.5 
			 Outdoor posters 2.3 
			 Online 0.2 
		
	
	We have no central record of advertising spend by non-departmental bodies, and could not obtain these without incurring disproportionate cost.

Hospital Admissions (Accidents)

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the rate of hospital admission for serious accidental injury has been per 100,000 population in each year since 1995.

Caroline Flint: The available trend data for rate of hospital admission for serious accidental injury is shown in the table.
	
		Age standardized hospital admission rate for serious accidental injury per 100,000 population
		
			 Financial year Number of persons, all ages, England 
		
		
			 1995–96 315.9 
			 1996–97 319.3 
			 1997–98 314.3 
			 1998–99 319.1 
			 1999–2000 324.9 
			 2000–01 313.4 
			 2001–02 312.7 
			 2002–03 327.8 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Serious accidental injury is defined as an accidental injury resulting in a hospital in-patient stay exceeding three days. The data are estimates derived from information held in the hospital episode statistics system, which contains details of patients admitted to and treated in national health service hospitals in England.
	2. Rates are directly age-standardised rates per 100,000 population, standardised against the European standard population.

Influenza Pandemic

Patrick Mercer: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what plans the Government has for emergency assistance to the national infrastructure in the event of an influenza pandemic;
	(2)  whether the Health Protection Agency has carried out an assessment of the economic impact of an influenza pandemic;
	(3)  what plans the Health Protection Agency has for mortuary facilities in the event of an influenza pandemic; and whether the plans have been rehearsed.

Caroline Flint: The Department, as lead Department, is working with the Civil Contingencies Secretariat (CCS) and with other Departments on cross-Government preparations for an influenza pandemic. One of the issues being covered in this work is the possible economic impact of a influenza pandemic on the United Kingdom as a whole, taking into account the uncertainty about the nature and scale of a pandemic and its impact. This work is being informed by the Health Protection Agency (HPA) who supports the Department through the provision of expert advice and some operational capacity.
	Good business continuity planning will reduce the impact of an influenza pandemic and Government Departments are working closely with key national industries to ensure they are as prepared as possible. The Home Office is assessing whether existing public and national health service mortuaries can cope with excess deaths during an influenza pandemic—in order to identify what extraordinary arrangements might be required to enhance current arrangements, including the provision of additional temporary facilities for the storage of bodies ahead of funerals taking place.

London SHAs (Staff)

Paul Burstow: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people are directly employed as (a) medical and dental staff and (b) non-medical staff in each London strategic health authority.

Jane Kennedy: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: total non-medical staff employed by specified organisations by main staff group as at 30 September 2004  Headcount
		
			  London SHAs 
			  North Central North East North West South East South West 
		
		
			 All staff 161 191 131 148 106 
			 Medical and dental staff 8 11 5 6 4 
			 All non-medical staff 153 180 126 142 102 
			 of which:  
			 Qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting 5 11 0 2 0 
			 Central functions 44 125 45 57 9 
			 Managers and senior managers 104 44 81 83 93 
		
	
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Medical and Dental Workforce Census 2004

Lung Disease

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people in the Easington primary care trust area suffer from (a) chronic bronchitis and emphysema and (b) pneumoconiosis.

Liam Byrne: Data on the incidence of chronic bronchitis and emphysemia and pneumoconiosis is not available centrally.
	These conditions are all very closely related and represent one of the most important conditions in the United Kingdom and one of the commonest reasons for admission to hospital. The principle cause is smoking. The national service framework (NSF) for coronary heart disease already has a reduction in cigarette smoking as one of its major targets. We have also banned tobacco advertising and made smoking reduction aids available on national health service prescription. Less important contributory factors are atmospheric pollution and recurrent chest infections.
	Strategic health authorities and primary care trusts have all received the NSF for long-term conditions. While the NSF is principally concerned with improving health and social care services for people with a long-term neurological condition, it will address some of the generic issues that are important to people living with a disability that is not necessarily neurological in origin. The principles in the NSF apply equally to improving quality of life and promoting independent living for anyone living with a long-term condition.

NHS Direct

Frank Dobson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons she is proposing to change the status of NHS Direct.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 4 July 2005
	The proposed change in the status of NHS Direct is a natural progression of its development to provide and develop responsive health information and advice to the public. It is part of the wider review of arm's length bodies (ALBs) by the Department, which was published in July 2004 by my right hon. Friend, the then Secretary of State for Health (Dr. Reid). The review set out an overall strategy to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the ALB sector, resulting in a reduction in their number. In the ALB review, a commitment was made to work with NHS Direct to change its governance arrangements.

Scanning Services

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average waiting time for a scan in County Durham and Tees Valley Strategic Health Authority area was in the last period for which figures are available.

Liam Byrne: holding answer 5 July 2005
	This data is not collected centrally.

Railways

Anne Main: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether his Department will fund the fitting-out of the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  if he will estimate the cost of fitting-out the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement on the current industry estimates;
	(3)  who owns the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  how much public money has been invested so far in the (a) construction and (b) planning of the interchange box under St. Pancras Station; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The box which has been built for the planned Thameslink Midland Road station is intended to be fitted out by Network Rail as part of the Thameslink 2000 project, for which statutory powers and funding arrangements have yet to be settled. The Government remains committed to completing the station, estimates the cost of the fit-out and associated track and signalling work to be around 60m, and is looking further at the options for completing the work in advance of Thameslink 2000.
	The Secretary of State for Transport owns the freehold of the Thameslink box and has agreed to grant a long lease (999 years) to Network Rail.
	The station box was financed by London and Continental Railways (LCR) as part of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link project (CTRL). It is not possible to separately identify that element of Government support for the CTRL project that has been expended on the Thameslink box.

Poverty Reduction

David Amess: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to reduce poverty in persons aged over 65 years; and if he will make a statement.

Ivan Lewis: Poverty and social exclusion are complex and multi-dimensional issues, affecting many aspects of people's lives—including their living standards, health, housing, the quality of their environment and not just low income. The Department for Work and Pensions "Opportunity for all" report sets out the Government's strategy for tackling poverty and social exclusion and reports progress against a range of measures.
	However, 2003–04 data shows nearly 2 million pensioners have been lifted out of absolute low income since 1997. Compared with the 1997 system, in 2005–06, as a result of the Government's measures including the pension credit, pensioner households will be on average £29 a week better off while the poorest third of pensioner households will be on average £39 a week better off.
	Alongside a 7 per cent. real increase in the basic state pension, winter fuel payments and free television licences, pension credit has been key to this increase in income. Pension credit which now pays over £6 billion a year to our poorest pensioners, guaranteeing a minimum income of £109.45 a week for single pensioners and £167.05 couples (over age 60). 2.7 million pensioner households (3.3 million individuals) were receiving pension credit at end March 2005. The Government are committed to increasing the guarantee credit element of pension credit by earnings next year and in the next spending round 2006–08.

Tax Avoidance Schemes

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to prevent accountancy firms selling aggressive tax avoidance schemes from securing contracts awarded by his Department.

Dawn Primarolo: The Government will continue to award contracts in accordance with procurement procedures. I refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 9 June 2005, Official Report, column 391W.